Associated Press
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) appeared on Fox News Radio this afternoon, and apparently had a little trouble keeping his composure.
The Republican leader was asked about President Obama's recent comments that he believes in an economy the works "from the middle class out," not "from the top down." This apparently sent Boehner over the edge. [Update: here's the audio clip, from our pal James Carter.]
"Sometimes I have to catch my breath and slow down because the rhetoric in this campaign is just so over the top. And that's because the president's policies have failed. Listen -- 93% of Americans believe they're a part of the middle class. That's why you hear the president talk about the middle class every day, because he's talking to 93% of the American people. But the president has never created a job. He's never even had a real job for Christ's sake."
I can't help but love the contrast between the first sentence in that paragraph and the last.
For the record, Obama has been an attorney, a community organizer working with churches in communities hit by factory closings, a law professor, a state lawmaker, a federal lawmaker, and the president of the United States during a time of multiple crises. I'm curious, which of these jobs does Boehner consider fake?
I'm also struck by the notion that Boehner thinks Obama is too focused on the middle class -- a complaint Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) also levied last week. Since when did Republicans decide "talking about the middle class every day" is a bad thing?
Boehner really should catch his breath, slow down, and consider the fact that the rhetoric in this campaign is just so over the top. Then, once he's regained his composure, he should also realize it's unbecoming of a Speaker of the House to lose his cool and make attacks like "he's never even had a real job for Christ's sake."
Clarification: Our friends at The Ed Show gave the audio a closer listen and have a more accurate transcription than ABC's report.
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I can see why the President speaking to the 93% who think they are middle class and 6% who want to be middle class would make Boehner testy. Rove got upset about the whole OWS 99% thing, too. It's the first issue that has put Republicans on edge in 40 plus years. It must be working.
The GOP did everything to destroy the middle class and are trying to take away their power at the ballot box, too. But now they realize they can't win anything without them in the long run. Republicans have created another problem they can't solve. And it just gets worse the longer the recovery stalls and nothing trickles down from those Bush tax cuts for the rich.
It's been nice watching and hearing conservatives tearing each other apart in our state Republican primary races. They have convinced everyone that none of the Republican candidates are "real" conservatives. Huckabee and Palin have been duking it out, too, for their favorites diminishing their own credibility with voters.
None of them are reaping anything from this blood bath in negative campaigning. According to their ads, all the Republican candidates are either pork barrel spenders, debt mismanagement specialists, or hiding gay or abortionist tendencies. The best of these "job creators" proudly boasts in an ad that he employed 200 people...once.
What Independent, conservative or progressive, would touch any of these Democratic alternatives? They sound like horrible people who have the worst intentions and a failed track record. They are so incompetent they shouldn't even be running? Love the GOP overreach. They are eating their own and still can't get enough blood from their victims.
There is also a Republican election in my state with all the candidates trying to claim they are the only true conservative Republicans. In a TV ad, one referred to herself as a "conservative maverick" (Gulp) and sure enough a few days later, Sarah Palin was touting her in another TV spot. "the status quo has got to go". Yeah, but not in the way you're thinking. The status quo is Repubs refusing to work with Dems. A legislation teaming with Teapatricans will be disastrous.
I am very curious as to why no one is mentioning tonight about the republicans going on vacation and not returning until mid September? No. 1 They didn't do their job. No.2 They could of passed something of importance and choose not to do anything. By walking out and going on vacation I feel they just told America to Kiss their azz. Haven't they insulted us enough, by not doing anything to help and now their telling us to kiss theirs! INCREDIBLE!!!!
Jill
Just for the record I am an old fashion Liberal Democrat and proud of it. That said it has been a historic tradition for Congress to take a recess in August because it's f^*!inghot in DC in August and anyone who can get out gets out. I think reconvening in September is a hold over form when transportation was slower than it is today.
That being said there is no where in the Constitution that mandates this. Nor is there a law that mandates it neither. Congress could go on through August if it wished to. There is after all the modern convenience of air conditioning. The Democrats wanted to work on. It was the Republicans who chose to go to recess contrary to Democrats wanting to continue to work. There was even a nice bit yesterday in the House as the Republican adjourned the House Democrats chanted "Work! Work! Work!
And yes I agree the Republicans just told America to just kiss thier azz.
Is there a Michelle Bachman gene that runs through the republican party now adays?
So what real job(s) has Boehner had?